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Captain Arthur Keller
James Keller is the adult son of Arthur Keller from his first marriage. Helen Keller is James’s half-sister, and Kate Keller is his stepmother. For most of the play, James is a laconic, wisecracking cynic. He thinks there’s no point in trying to teach Helen how to write, and he’s not shy about telling other people his opinion—including Annie Sullivan herself. Although James makes a show of being cool and disinterested, he’s actually very concerned with his relationship with his father, and seems to resent him for remarrying the much younger Kate Keller, viewing it as an insult to the memory of his mother. Over the course of the play, Annie’s lessons in communication inspire James to stand up to his father and even develop a friendship with Kate, suggesting that the play’s events catalyze something of a coming of age for James himself.
James Keller Quotes in The Miracle Worker
The The Miracle Worker quotes below are all either spoken by James Keller or refer to James Keller. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 2
Quotes
JAMES: That she isn't. That there's such a thing as-dullness of heart. Acceptance. And letting go. Sooner or later we all give up, don't we?
ANNIE: Maybe you all do. It’s my idea of the original sin.
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JAMES [in pain] Don't—
KATE: Captain.
KELLER: He's afraid.
(He throws JAMES away from him, with contempt.)
What does he want out of me?
JAMES [AN OUTCRY]: My God, don't you know?
(He gazes from KELLER to KATE.)
Everything you forgot, when you forgot my mother.
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Act 3
Quotes
JAMES: What does he want from me?
KATE: That's not the question. Stand up to the world, Jimmie, that comes first.
JAMES [A PAUSE, WRYLY]: But the world is him.
KATE: Yes. And no one can do it for you.
JAMES: Kate.
(His voice is humble.)
At least we—Could you—be my friend?
KATE: I am.
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JAMES [LIGHTLY]: And Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with an angel until the breaking of the day and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him; and the angel said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And Jacob said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Amen.
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JAMES: She's right, Kate's right, I'm right, and you're wrong. If you drive her away from here it will be over my dead-chair, has it never occurred to you that on one occasion you might be consummately wrong?
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James Keller Quotes in The Miracle Worker
The The Miracle Worker quotes below are all either spoken by James Keller or refer to James Keller. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 2
Quotes
JAMES: That she isn't. That there's such a thing as-dullness of heart. Acceptance. And letting go. Sooner or later we all give up, don't we?
ANNIE: Maybe you all do. It’s my idea of the original sin.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
JAMES [in pain] Don't—
KATE: Captain.
KELLER: He's afraid.
(He throws JAMES away from him, with contempt.)
What does he want out of me?
JAMES [AN OUTCRY]: My God, don't you know?
(He gazes from KELLER to KATE.)
Everything you forgot, when you forgot my mother.
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3
Quotes
JAMES: What does he want from me?
KATE: That's not the question. Stand up to the world, Jimmie, that comes first.
JAMES [A PAUSE, WRYLY]: But the world is him.
KATE: Yes. And no one can do it for you.
JAMES: Kate.
(His voice is humble.)
At least we—Could you—be my friend?
KATE: I am.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
JAMES [LIGHTLY]: And Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with an angel until the breaking of the day and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him; and the angel said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And Jacob said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Amen.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
JAMES: She's right, Kate's right, I'm right, and you're wrong. If you drive her away from here it will be over my dead-chair, has it never occurred to you that on one occasion you might be consummately wrong?
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
